Advanced 10 CAE Practice Tests The Writing supplement includes model answers for the All the Writing sections of the 10 Advanced Practice tests Writing Supplement NEW 2015 Format The Writing Supplement includes model answers for all the writing tasks for Practice Tests - 10 Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY My town is a rather dull place I feel this could be remedied, however, if we added to the existing facilities in the area To date, a sports centre and a history museum have been proposed for the area In my opinion, whilst any facility would be a positive improvement, I have distinct reservations about the addition of a history museum to the town To begin with, I think that museums are rather dry, boring places and a new museum would be my last choice as a solution to liven up the town Moreover, a history museum would have a very limited appeal and only be of interest to history buffs and would be unlikely to appeal to the town's younger generation A sports centre, on the other hand, would appeal to the majority of the town's population Old and young alike enjoy sports -the centre could offer more leisurely sports like swimming and tennis for the older generation, and faster-moving sports like basketball and squash for more energetic youngsters A great benefit of having a sports centre also, is that it encourages people to get fit and exercise Obesity is a modern-day epidemic with widespread health consequences Having a means to get fit and keep the weight down is a positive benefit in today's society I believe a sports centre has much more to offer the town than a history museum The addition of a sports centre would act as a community focal point and encourage greater levels of fitness in the town's people TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REPORT I recently completed a one- month school course in basic cookery It was aimed at complete beginners and endeavoured to teach the participants how to make simple main meals, progressing to pastry-making in the final week of the course I have to say, that on the whole, I found the course extremely useful, as to be honest, before I started the course, I was a bit clueless in the kitchen I think that many of my classmates would agree with me, when I say that we all learned a great deal from the course Even those who had never picked up a wooden cooking spoon in their lives, by the end of the course, were making short-crust pastry and quite advanced dishes I think the teachers were excellent; extremely patient and always happy to re-demonstrate any point that we hadn't taken in at the beginning I also think that their teaching methods, showing us a step-by-step approach to preparing each dish at the beginning of the lesson, was highly effective It certainly helped put theory into practice afterwards! If I could change anything about the course, I think I would have put less emphasis on preparing main dishes We are at school, still, after all, and we would have enjoyed preparing more fun things like sweet desserts and biscuits! I would definitely recommend this course to friends and relatives but only to those who need to learn the basics of cookery-otherwise this course wouldn't be challenging enough TEST - PART Dear Sir or Madam, QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER OF APPLICATION I am writing in response to the advert I saw in the newspaper seeking people to work as tour guides I think I would make a very good tour guide and I wish to apply for the job There are a number of reasons that I think I would make an ideal employee for you I am nineteen years old and have just completed my first year studying archaeology at the university Although I did not grow up in this city, I really love it here and have enjoyed getting to know the city Now, I know it like the back of my hand, but I still have the enthusiasm of a visitor For this reason, I think I would be very good at showing other visitors around I have always been sociable and I like meeting and talking with people; for example, when I started university I joined five different clubs! That was a bit much, so now I choose my three favourite which I’m still actively involved in I believe the highlight of our area is the history It is a very great history and is known extensively There are many archaeological sites, which are well shown, for people to see and visit and understand Not many cities have the opportunity to educate visitors so much about the past I appreciate your attention to my letter and I hope you will consider my application If you need any more information please feel free to contact me I hope to hear from you soon Yours faithfully, Hannah Johnson TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW Film Review - Romeo and Juliet This new film of Romeo and Juliet is a very successful adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous play and it does a great job of engaging the audience with the story at all times The story begins with a large fight between the Capulets and the Montagues, two prestigious families in Verona, Italy The two protagonists of the story, Romeo and Juliet, who come from these two families, fall in love, only to later discover that their families are enemies They are devastated, but they decide to marry and so Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar Lawrence Juliet’s mother wants her daughter to marry a man named Paris, but she refuses to comply Friar Lawrence gives Juliet a potion which will make her appear dead and he promises to tell Romeo She drinks the potion and everybody thinks she is dead Friar Lawrence’s letter fails to reach Romeo, so he assumes that his wife is dead and commits suicide Later, Juliet wakes to find Romeo is dead and so she kills herself I would wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone who likes Shakespeare and romantic love stories It is a classic story that still appeals to everybody, even younger audiences Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY Everywhere we turn, nowadays we see charities beseeching the public for money Whether in the many 'begging letters' that pop unsolicited though our mailboxes daily, or in the televised appeals for charities, headed by celebrities trying to tug at our heart-strings but the question is, which charities deserve to be funded and which should be given priority in government funding? Are sports and recreation charities more worthy a cause for example, than health charities? This is a major dilemma that is by no means a clear-cut issue Let's take sports and recreation charities compared to health charities as a case in point The former have a valid claim to government funding Sport and recreation help reduce stress, and keep people fit, positive and healthy In addition, sports and recreation centres also provide a community focal point, enriching the lives of many However, what good is recreation and sport if you are too unwell to participate? There is a much stronger argument, that health is a far greater priority than sport and recreation Furthermore, an increasingly aged population is becoming a heavy burden on healthcare, necessitating greater funding for charities as the prevalence of Alzheimer's and cancer increase proportionally with an ageing population Many now are reliant on support from health charities We have an obligation to fund these charities, in return I believe that the funding of health charities is the greater priority After all, what good are health and recreation centres if we don’t have enough hospitals for people who are suffering? Without doubt, government funding must be directed first and foremost to health charities TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW I recently had the occasion to visit the newly-opened Chinese restaurant, the 'Peking Dragon.' I had been told to expect 'authentic home-made Chinese cooking at its best,' by the advertising blurb of the local newspaper, so I thought I would give it a go Approaching the restaurant over a little wooden bridge, spanning a pond filled with golden carp and water-lilies, certainly put me in the mood Entering through a pagoda-style entrance, I was delighted to see an authentic, Chinese-style interior, resplendent with Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling and Chinese dragons painted on the walls The décor was subtle and created a wonderful ambiance On entering the restaurant, I and my dining companion were met by a friendly waitress who showed us to our table Like the rest of the waiting staff, she was attentive, without being overbearing and always happy to help The food itself was somewhat mixed in quality We began our meal, with vegetable spring rolls, as starters Although the filling was tasty, the batter was rather greasy and heavy-I would normally expect spring roll batter to be light and crispy The main course, crispy Peking duck, did not disappoint, however An outer layer of crisp skin, covered succulent meat that melted in the mouth-the accompanying mandarin pancakes were really mor- eish, too Feeling full, my companion and I both decided to skip dessert, but we both agreed that on the whole ,the food was excellent I would definitely recommend the 'Peking Dragon,' for a special night out! TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER Hi Matt, Time for a catch-up! I’ve got some exciting news; I’ve put my fears to one side and made up my mind to what you did a year ago and go backpacking around Europe Nice, eh? But I’m hoping I can count on your support, buddy, because I’ve got a ton of questions… First off, what about the route – should I plan it all out in advance or just go with the flow and see where my journey takes me? What did you do? I think maybe some advance planning is a good idea, right? And another thing; how did you travel? I mean, I’m worried about safety a little, so I don’t think I’d hitchhike, but which other option is best – train, bus…? I don’t have all that much money to spend so cost is quite important, too; I guess what I’m asking is what’s the safest and cheapest way to get around? Then there’s accommodation – where did you stay? I was thinking hostels or cheap hotels Are they safe and what are the facilities like? By the way, did you get travel insurance? I’m caught in two minds about whether or not it’s worth it; after all, it’s quite pricey, but I guess then you’re protected for your trip I’d also love to hear what you have to say about the best places to visit; I mean, where did you have the best time and what’s unmissable? Let me know if there are any potential problems I might encounter, too Was your trip pretty problem-free or are there things I should know about? Speak soon, Neville TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL To: Jackie Sandown From: Bob Munday Date: 5th June 2013 Subject: Careers Service The aim of this proposal is to outline what should be offered by our new career service and how it should be run Opening times First of all, I think it is important to choose the opening hours carefully If it is open when people cannot use it then this is not helpful for anyone The students who will use the service should be free to visit during the lunchtime hours and also after classes in the evening These are the times when it should be open What it should offer It should offer certain things to help to inform the students Information must be provided on higher education opportunities Also, it should inform about part time and temporary work opportunities, as well as vocations and careers This is important because not all of the students want the same thing Secondly, we should have seminars by people who are following different careers, so that they can tell students what it is like This will help students to make their decision Finally, we should also provide a job notice board where companies can advertise their jobs This will help both the students and the companies to find what they are looking for I think if you follow these suggestions it will be a very helpful career service Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY School curricula nowadays are constantly under fire from academics and students alike Academics accuse schools of 'dumbing down' the school syllabus as more demanding subjects, such as Ancient Greek and Latin, come under threat -often the students themselves demanding the inclusion of more vocational subjects, like computer courses on the school syllabus But who is right? Admittedly, with rising unemployment there is a greater pressure than ever for schools to turn out students fit for employment Teaching computer courses does ensure that students are adequately-equipped to deal with the modern workplace But should schools devote valuable time from their curricula to teaching computer courses? In my opinion it is perfectly possible to become reasonable competent at using a computer without resorting to computer courses to teach the basics necessary to survive in the modern workplace I believe that it is far more vital to teach Ancient Greek and Latin in schools It is irrelevant that they are so-called 'dead languages.' They teach the basics of grammar, which is the root to all modern language learning as well as the derivation of words, which enriches students' vocabulary and the understanding of languages In addition, learning Ancient Greek and Latin, we are introduced to the great classical authors like Homer and Virgil A syllabus devoid of such literary references would be a very poor one indeed Therefore, I am convinced that Ancient Greek and Latin should remain on the school curriculum They are invaluable in widening students' knowledge of classical authors as well as teaching the fundamentals of language TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REPORT I recently had the occasion to visit the newly-built local shopping centre and whilst there were some really positive aspects to it, I have to say that it rather left me cold and wishing instead they had kept the little corner shops and boutiques, that the complex replaced Possibly I am a traditionalist and dislike concrete conglomerations which tend to blot the urban landscape of today The new shopping centre with its uninspired architecture is no exception, I am afraid to say and is a bit of an eyesore To alleviate this problem ,maybe trees could be planted around the entrance to the centre and a small park created, outside I think this would give the centre a 'greener' look, and help it blend in with the surrounds On the plus side, though, I think the presence of this shopping centre will definitely liven up the area and encourage people to spend, thereby boosting local economy It will also be a good focal point for the community, to meet friends, shop and eat-all under one roof! Finally,since the shopping area will lead to increased traffic congestion, I suggest the implementation of courtesy buses, to transport shoppers from a parking area outside town to the centre itself We could also offer free parking in the out-of-town car park as an incentive to use this system Despite some personal reservations, I believe the shopping centre will have a positive impact on the community and environmental issues, such as increased traffic, can easily be resolved, following the above guidelines TEST - PART Dear Mr Menton, QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER I am writing about a recent incident in your shop in which I had the misfortune to be involved in The incident I refer to is when one of your staff stopped me and accused me of shoplifting in front of about 20 other people Needless to say, this was an extremely embarrassing situation for me Thank goodness I had kept the receipt to prove that I had paid for everything on my person at the time, but to be accused of stealing like that in front of all those people – some of whom I knew personally – was very humiliating and degrading The shop assistant used a very accusatory tone But the thing that angered and dismayed me most was not the accusation itself - after all, misunderstandings happen sometimes - but the accuser’s failure to acknowledge his mistake or apologise to me When I showed him the receipt, he simply walked off mumbling about how ‘shady’ a character I looked Considering how much embarrassment I was caused, I not think it was too much to have expected a simple apology either, you? Which brings me back to why I am writing; if I cannot get an apology from this assistant, then I would like a formal one from you instead If an official apology is not forthcoming and I am not compensated in some way – with a shopping voucher for example - then be warned that I will take further steps to ensure that I get justice I look forward to hearing from you at the very earliest convenience Yours sincerely, Michael Mathers TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL Proposal for improving the wellness of employees in the workplace Following recent concern voiced about the health of the company's employees, I have come up with the following proposal to improve the wellness of company workers Firstly, most employees spend too much time sitting at their desk It is hardly surprising, therefore, that many employees complain of feeling unfit and being overweight Since it is difficult to exercise during the day, I suggest that lunch-time fitness classes, such as aerobics or 'hot yoga', could be run on the premises Admittedly, it might be difficult to encourage employees to give up their lunch break, so maybe after-work fun fitness classes could be arranged and we could make it more of a social activity, by going to the pub, together afterwards Another health issue is that of healthy eating Too many employees are overweight Healthier meals could be introduced in the canteen and an incentive given to choose a healthy meal over a more fattening, calorieladen one, by offering such meals which are significantly cheaper, being heavily-subsidised by the company Too many employees are also complaining of tiredness and being over-worked For this reason, I think that employees' holidays should be strictly monitored and employees encouraged to take all holidays owed Furthermore, fun weekends away could be organised -such as white-water rafting weekends These weekends would increase the health and fitness of employees as well as being a good team-building exercise and increasing employees' general feeling of well-being I hope these proposals will be of use and hope that their implementation will lead to increased health and fitness levels in employees Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY It is an undeniable fact that the large numbers of tourists who visit the island each year put a huge strain on energy resources Consumption of electricity peaks during high season and sometimes it is difficult to meet the demand for power occasioned by the annual influx of tourists With this in mind, there has been a proposal for either wind turbines or solar panels to supply this demand Wind turbines would seem a cheap and logical solution to this problem Wind power is free and there's a lot of it about-the island is notorious for its high winds even in summer But the question is, we really want a wind farm blighting the island's beautiful landscape? Furthermore, wind farms pose a threat to bird life, killing hundreds of birds that stray unwittingly into the turbines' paths The island prides itself on its natural habitat and the diversity of wildlife We cannot put these at risk Solar panels, harnessing the abundant solar energy are by far the best solution They are relatively cheap to install, environmentally-friendly and highly effective when it's sunny! Although there is no shortage of sun in this region, if there are some overcast days, solar energy could be supplemented by generators powered by coal or gas so there would always be a constant supply of electricity To my mind, harnessing solar energy through solar panels is far the safest, least environmentally-damaging way to provide renewable energy Wind farms are too unsightly and damaging to the environment to present a viable alternative as an energy source TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW The Kaplinsky Museum of Ballet The Kaplinsky Museum of Ballet is located at the heart of the world of ballet dance, in Moscow As you pull up to it in your cab - you have only the choice of a taxi or your own transport as there are no bus or train stations nearby - you are overcome by the beauty of the building’s façade, which is very grand-looking and regal – fit for a king, as the saying goes! Then, as you step out onto Ninehammer Street, you get your first glimpse inside the foyer of the amazing Building 35, which houses the exhibits, and you are simply blown away All that glitters really is gold! Through the lobby is a very upmarket café-restaurant, with prices that will leave you dizzy as you exit with pockets half-empty Next to it, there is a lovely museum shop, where the prices are a little more down-to- earth The museum entrance price is not too expensive either and you are well-rewarded for your ten-dollar-equivalent ticket as you walk down the long corridors to explore this grand old place Particularly beautiful are the visual exhibits, which feature still images capturing precious moments from some of the finest ballet performances throughout history The dress section is also interesting and visitors can see what the greats of yesteryear used to wear on stage All in all, this museum is well worth the expense of the taxi trip you must take to get there The exhibits appeal not just to dance-lovers, but to those interested in the Arts generally And as for the price, well, if you skip the optional trip to the super-chic café, then it doesn’t seem so bad after all! TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER I was amazed to hear of your problems and dissatisfaction concerning 'Nightbeat,' the new mobile App for finding nightclubs Personally I have only praise for this great little App and have highly recommended it to other users You criticised the design of the App as not being user-friendly and irrelevant I'm sorry, but I'm at a complete loss as to how you could find it anything but extremely easy to use and functionally highly- effective On its dashboard, the App lists all the nightclubs within a 10-mile radius of your current position on a street map, clearly accessed under the 'Map' button Other functions, such as a call button to directly contact clubs listed ,is also clearly identified as a green call button In fact all functions from calling clubs to reserve a table, to adding your own user comment via Twitter or Facebook are extremely easy to use, contrary to what you suggested in your blog As regards any inaccuracy on the App, again I disagree with your viewpoint I found all information relevant and up-to-date Alongside the name of each club brought up on the screen, is detailed useful information about each of the clubs' facilities, e.g wheelchair access, and function areas for private parties, that is constantly updated by App users and so is not inaccurate, as you suggested Furthermore, all the information is accessed virtually instantaneously,making the App extremely useful when you need to find an address quickly Unlike yourself, I had absolutely no issues with speed and overall am extremely satisfied with the App TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL Further to the proposal for a new University recreation centre, I have outlined certain suggestions below that I think would help improve the overall experience of the student population Firstly, our University campus is located outside the city centre, necessitating a 20 minute bus journey to the shops Although it is only a short distance to travel, it is inconvenient for those students who need to shop for essential items and not wish to go off campus to so Therefore I suggest including a small con- venience store in the new recreation centre as it would make all of our lives a lot easier Secondly, I think a cafe or student bar should also be included It's important to have a focal point on cam- pus which can be a meeting point for students who want to socialise without having to go into the city centre to so It would be good also if the bar could have a pool table or darts board and if funds stretch to it, a virtual bowling game, maybe, to liven up the atmosphere Finally, many students are on a tight budget and sometimes going into the city centre for a night out, is not an option Therefore it would be good to have a small cinema in the recreation centre showing mainstream as well as more 'arty' type films I hope my suggestions are useful and I hope they will be taken into consideration, when deciding on what facilities should be included in the new recreation centre Test TEST - PART QUESTION - ESSAY The introduction of university tuition fees to UK universities has been highly controversial The question is, how much should students be charged for their education, and higher fees ensure higher academic standards are maintained? It is argued that universities need to charge high tuition fees to ensure academic standards are maintained by ensuring top-notch tutors not desert their posts for more lucrative job offers elsewhere However, if high tuition fees are introduced, strong students with poor parents will be unable to fund their education and lose out, thereby depleting universities of more gifted students and actually lowering levels of academic excellence Unfortunately, tuition fees are unavoidable, but at least these fees should be kept low so as allow gifted students of poor parents to attend university After all, why should students be penalised just because their parents aren't wealthy? This is surely the worst kind of discrimination For many students from humbler backgrounds, astronomical tuition fees would be a major disincentive to going on to further study Surely the last thing we should be doing is discouraging talent that will form the backbone of the future workforce? We cannot afford to turn away gifted students from poor families In my opinion, tuition fees should be kept as low as possible to ensure good students are not deprived of a university education just because they come from poor families To otherwise, is an incredibly short-sighted policy that will lead to lower academic achievement and more poorly-qualified workers in the workforce TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL To: Bairdsdale County Council From: Rowan Donalle Date: 16th March 2014 Subject: Developing and improving the neighbourhood for the next generation This proposal aims to suggest ways in which the neighbourhood could be developed and improved for the benefit of the next generation Leisure The town has few parks, play and activities areas for children and teenagers It is recommended that the derelict Kapperbay building in the centre of town be demolished and that the site on which it presently stands be transformed into a public park area Kapperbay has considerable grounds, some of which could also be used to build new youth facilities This will give young people and indeed families a meeting place and a focal point for their activities Environmental Issues The centre of town should be designated a car-free zone to make it less polluted and safer for pedestrians and cyclists alike At present it is far too congested and drivers flout the law, ignoring traffic signs, which makes for very dangerous conditions on the streets The resultant pollution has been known to cause respiratory problems also Education The town’s two main primary schools and only secondary institute are in need of renovation Funds should be set aside to build a computer laboratory at both primary schools and a state-of-the-art science and technology lab at the secondary institute This will give students access to vital resources to help prepare them for life in the technologically-driven world of the future Housing Far too many residents are forced to rent because of prices in the housing market The council should provide affordable housing for first-time buyers to help them to get onto the property ladder; otherwise, the situation will only continue to escalate In conclusion, I feel very confident that if the council undertakes to act on these proposals, our neighbourhood will be well-prepared to accommodate future generations of town-dwellers 10 TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REPORT There has been an uncommonly large turnover in staff over recent years, a fact which cannot have gone unnoticed by the management With the greatest of respect, I would suggest implementing the following measures to reverse this trend and encourage the retention of valued staff members Firstly, many employees have been demotivated by a lack of career prospects within the company Employees, especially women have complained of a 'glass ceiling,' and are frustrated at not being able to be promoted to managerial level I think that the company would greatly benefit from 'new blood' in the management team The company is far more likely to retain talented staff if there are genuine prospects of promotion available Secondly, promotional aspects aside, many employees feel overworked and underpaid I'm not suggesting a blanket pay increase for all workers What I propose instead, is a performance-related end of year bonus to employees that have exceeded expectations Consistently high performers could also qualify for an increase in salary-maybe this could be reviewed on a yearly basis? Finally, there is a real feeling of despondency amongst all the employees In order to increase morale, maybe the company could subsidise gym membership for employees to help increase fitness and well-being On that subject, a holiday allowance also wouldn't go amiss for employees who are currently feeling overworked and undervalued These are just some suggestions that I hope will be taken up by the company I believe both the company as well as its employees only stand to gain from such improvements TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW Whenever there is a special occasion, I always like to celebrate it with friends and family at our local Italian restaurant, 'Al Forno.' The atmosphere, food and service are unbeatable and we always have a good time whenever we go there The moment you enter, you are immediately made to feel at home Waiters show you to your table in the cosy dining area that has a warm and intimate atmosphere, added to, by the placing of candles and freshly-cut flow- ers on the tables The white plaster walls are adorned with large posters of famous Italian monuments, such as the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum in Rome, which add an authentic touch, further enhanced by soft Italian music playing in the background In the corner of the dining area, is the wood-burning pizza oven, where the pizzas are all made freshly to order The warmth and glow from the oven adds a certain cheeriness too, to the general atmosphere The openplan kitchen is another plus, as you can always rest assured that the food is all hygienically prepared The food is 100 per cent authentic Italian, from the home-made pizzas to the pasta dishes and gorgeous desserts, such as melt-in-your-mouth tiramisu! The pizzas are a particular speciality, with their thin-crust bases and generous toppings which are also, very reasonably-priced I would thoroughly recommend 'Al Forno,' as a great night out- the restaurant never fails to disappoint with its high standards of food and service 11 Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY With an increasingly consumerist society, the pressure is on for shops to stay open days a week The question is, should this be permitted or should we restrict shopping to a 6- day week with a day of rest on Sundays? Those who advocate a -day week argue that not only should consumers have the option to shop whenever they want, but shopkeepers and workers alike should also have the right to decide if they want to work a 7-day week, with the possibility of opting out if so wished However, if shops open days a week, shopkeepers will not have the option to decide whether they will open or not They will be compelled to so to compete with their rivals Employees will then be obliged to work too, as a result, so it is only the consumer who will have the luxury of choice in this matter But the question is, if retail workers fail to benefit from a 7-day week, would the consumer at least benefit from the introduction of a 7-day week? Personally, I believe not We need to set aside at least one day a week for friends and family otherwise we lose track of what is important in life and become too materialistic Surely we have not so lost sight of our values that we need to shop 24/7? I believe, therefore that strict legislation should be imposed ,prohibiting Sunday trading, so that people can have a chance to relax and value what is truly important in their lives TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER Hi Leon, It was great to get your mail just the other day All’s well here with me, thanks for asking But it’s you I’m concerned about actually I mean, I was shocked to hear that you’ve taken up smoking Don’t you know all the health hazards associated with that nasty habit? It’s even known to cause breathing difficulties, which may explain your sudden development of asthma And, besides, what happens if you become addicted? I mean, forget the sports scholarship then – smoking ruins athletic performance and that’s a fact… Your lung capacity will shrink for a start Maybe you should think about quitting – the longer you wait; the harder it will get Otherwise, the future you dreamt of with a career in sports might be in jeopardy Then what would you do? You would be miserable in a nine-to-five… If I were you, I’d go see my local GP and get some advice on what the best quitting-aid would be in your case Have you considered nicotine patches or a nicotine inhaler or something like that? I hear even hypnosis can sometimes be effective Please just try to stop; it’s for your own good in the long run I’m not trying to sound ‘preachy’, I’m just worried about you my friend Write back soon, Mark 12 TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL I would like to apply for the new junior management position, as I believe that I have a lot to offer in this position Firstly, in the two years that I have been working for the company, I have learned a great deal about how the company works, and have established a good rapport with company clientele For these reasons, I believe that I am in a good position to negotiate contracts and establish new ones with our existing customer base Having worked in the office for a fairly lengthy period, I have also got to know the other employees and established a good working relationship with them, so I believe this would strengthen my application for the role of junior manager Were I to be accepted for this role, I would like to extend our current network of business associates, by promoting our company further afield-either by promotional launches held at high profile venues, such as five-star hotels, or by advertising in glossy magazines that have a wider circulation than the ones we currently advertise in In this position, I would nurture a team spirit, encouraging up-and- coming talent, rather than adopting an authoritarian-style of leadership If I had the opportunity to take up this post, I would also learn more effectively to translate ideas into serious business propositions, thereby making my contribution to the company more effective For the above reasons, I hope that you will give due consideration to my application as I believe that I have a valid contribution to make in this new role TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW I recently purchased a Smartphone from a company whose products-until now-I have always been extremely satisfied with My new Smartphone though, has completely reversed my opinion of this company and their products Hardly anything actually works on this phone! User-friendly it may be, with its simple easy-to -use Apps if they actually did work, that is! Try phoning a friend by scrolling through the sluggish interface If the App doesn't actually freeze before you get to the desired address, then it's most likely a completely different App will be opened up instead! And that's not the worst of it! Constantly the screen freezes or just shuts down completely, leaving a black screen This necessitates constantly re-starting the phone by first removing the battery It takes a lot of power constantly shutting down and starting up the phone and often the battery power runs out before you have even accessed the App you were trying to use! This is especially annoying if you are out and a long way from a power source to recharge your phone One more thing, if there is any moisture at all on your hands when you try to use the touch-screen, you can almost guarantee the phone will have a complete seizure and freeze instantaneously It seems to be highly sensitive, but to all the wrong things! It is extremely badly-made and I can't wait to trade it in for a new model when my contract with the company comes to and end 13 Test TEST - PART QUESTION - ESSAY Rush-hour traffic and congestion in city centres along with rising levels of pollution, have prompted local authorities to seek a reduction in traffic However, which alternative-banning traffic from city centres or providing exclusive lanes for public transport would be the more effective? Those who are completely anti-car ,propose the somewhat Draconian measure of banning all vehicles from city centres during busy hours Admittedly, this would drastically reduce the amount of traffic and pollution in the city centres-but is it really viable? In my opinion, banning traffic from city centres is only practical if an alternative solution is on offer-for example a ring-road to lessen the flow of traffic through the city centre - (which is not always possible financially or practically) or efficient public transport, to encourage car drivers to leave their vehicles at home I believe therefore, that the only solution is to make public transport a more attractive alternative to car drivers, thereby lessening the flow of traffic in the city centre and reducing pollution, as a result In order to make public transport more efficient, I believe that the introduction of exclusive lanes for public transport would make travelling on buses the quicker and cheaper alternative to driving a car into the city In conclusion, I believe that introducing bus lanes would the simplest, most effective method of reducing traffic and pollution in the city It has worked well in other major cities so why not in ours? TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REPORT Having just completed months at the 'Little Flower' school for underprivileged African children, I would like to highlight some issues with the project as well as comment on its strengths To begin with, I will start with the benefits of such a scheme Personally, participating in the project, was a revelation Seeing individuals who are so utterly impoverished, still able to learn from the project and flourish academically, gaining confidence in the process, was a truly wonderful thing to witness first-hand It is clear that the project is enabling those who would normally never have the chance to an education, to learn the basics of reading and writing We have also been instrumental in teaching the children about basic hygiene and food preparation as well as teaching them about insect-borne infection, thereby preventing illness and improving overall welfare The main problem we have encountered so far, however,is a lack of resources We need more stationery for one thing We always seem to be running out of pens and paper! Also we need to provide one good meal a day, at least, at the school The children's parents cannot afford to feed their children adequately, which results in the children becoming listless in lessons and failing to focus on lesson content I feel that if the children were better nourished, then they would learn better On the whole, though, I think the scheme is proving to be highly successful and has been well received by the African people 14 TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW Without a doubt, my favourite novel is Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca On all levels, it is a highly-accomplished novel, full of intrigue, romance and stunning description The beginning of the novel, starting with a dream-like sequence, as the narrator remembers Manderley, her former marital home and country estate, is gripping as it is sinister Throughout the novel, Du Maurier uses similar images and descriptions from the wild Cornish countryside to evoke mood and atmosphere to amazing effect, as the plot develops and the evil influence of the chief housekeeper, Mrs.Danvers begins to be felt But it is the plot itself that is the strength of the novel The reader is drawn slowly in, as sinister developments unfold, casting doubt upon how Rebecca, Mr De Winter's first wife- died The ingenuity in the plot, with its innumerable twists and turns, leaves the reader on tenterhooks right up until the final dramatic and unexpected ending Whilst Max De Winter, is a rather undeveloped character, this is more than compensated for, by the tremendous character development of the sinister Mrs Danvers, who dominates the novel just as much as the deceased Rebecca The narrator, the second Mrs Danvers, is rather a timid, mousey character but as such is a fantastic foil to the domineering Danvers The novel also gains tremendous impact through being told through the eyes of the narrator, thereby lending the novel a greater sense of immediacy I think it is a great read -a faultless novel that will stand the test of time I would thoroughly recommend it TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER Hey Lena, How’s everything with you? With me, all is well – great, actually; I’ve just taken up this new hobby you see and love it so far Have you ever been skiing? As far as I can remember, you haven’t Well, I decided, what with living so close to the Alps here, that it was high time I tried out the powder for myself So I asked for a set of skis, boots and a helmet for my birthday, and got a part-time job to pay for the skiwear I’d need, such as the ski-jacket, trousers, thermals, and balaclava for when it gets particularly cold up there on the mountain Anyway, I took a few lessons, which my nan was good enough to pay for (another birthday present), and I just found the whole experience of flying down the slopes exhilarating In an instant, I was hooked My coach says I took to it like a duck to water! You start out as a beginner using a technique called the snowplough, but I’ve already moved on to more advanced parallel skiing I think you’d like it, too It’s a shame there are no ski slopes in Ireland, but knowing your sense of adventure and taste for action, I’m sure you’d be equally impressed Maybe next time you come over we can go together, eh? Anyway, let me know what’s up with you lately – any exciting news? Looking forward to hearing from you Love, Leah 15 Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY The local school desperately needs the injection of council money to update its current facilities The question, is, though ,what should be given priority-a new, well-equipped library or catering facilities? Many working parents argue that they are hard-pushed to provide a decent dinner for their children when they come back from school -the responsibility of providing children with one square meal a day, rests with the school they say That is why many favour the introduction of new catering facilities, so that children can at least expect one good meal at lunchtime Firstly, I would disagree with such a view, as nutritious meals such as salads and omelettes can be rustled up in minutes There is no excuse not to prepare your child a good dinner citing lack of time If parents cooked their children a good dinner, then there wouldn't be such a pressure to update existing catering facilities at the school Furthermore, I believe that the education of children is a far more pressing need than better catering arrangements After all, children come to school to be educated, not to dine in style! Too many children are now reading Internet articles as a substitute for real reading, so we should our best to encourage our children to read real books in a well-stocked library! I believe that there is no contest between the bid for a new library and new catering facilities As far as I'm concerned, the library wins the contest, hands down The imaginations of the young need to be fed, more than their stomachs! TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL I, like many younger people, am very disappointed with what is currently available with regard to entertainment and facilities in our town With that in view, I have outlined a few proposals as to how the situation could be improved Firstly, many young people are too young to hold a driver's licence, as a result, many people who live on the town's outskirts feel cut-off, as the public transport is unreliable We really need more buses on more routes to allow people to get around more as well as late night buses to ferry people to and from bars and clubs in town Facilities, such as local parks could also be improved I believe that the town's central park would benefit from having a restaurant or cafe where people could meet A skateboard area would also be appreciated by the local teenagers who are often at a loose end at weekends or during holidays There is also a need to modernise the local secondary school, as well as brighten up the playground in the primary school building The schools would also benefit from more teachers, specialised in their fields as there are too many non-specialised teachers working in the schools at present Finally, I believe that tourism in our town could be increased by updating and modernising the local museum and art gallery as well as having more cafes and restaurants in town I hope that the council will take some of my proposals on board and I hope that soon our town will become a better place to live 16 TEST - PART Hey Allie, QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER Rumour has it you’ve just gone live, right?! Well, I’ve been lucky enough to have broadband internet for a while now, so I thought I’d fill you in on what you’ve been missing! First up, you know about all the cool online game-play sites you can visit; you can play arcade games, action games, single-player games, multi-player games … the list goes on I’ve joined this virtual UN armed mission on www.onlinegamermissions.com and it’s really amazing! In the game, I’ve teamed up with all these other virtual players and we have to protect the ordinary citizens (virtual, of course) of Nigeria from a dangerous rebel army trying to take over the country Sometimes I get so into it that I forget it’s virtual-world game-play; it just feels so real! There’s so much else you can online as well; you can stream great movies – sometimes for free and even when you have to pay it’s so much cheaper than going down the video store You can find and listen to almost any song by any artist you’d care to name as well Not to mention the fact that you can pay all your bills online and you’ll never have to go to the bank again… There are also great bargains to be had when you browse the online shops – you can go on a shoe-buying spree! One thing I should mention though – as sort of a warning – be careful which sites you give your personal information to Some might even try to steal your identity or access your private accounts To be sure, install some malware software to protect your PC from viruses and attack by hackers Then you can surf safe in the knowledge that you are fully protected Happy surfing! Marianna TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW I recently undertook a 10 week course in scuba diving at my local diving school and was very impressed overall with the quality of the course and instructor tuition Class sizes were a maximum 5-6 per class which was ideal, as were the times of lessons- 6-9 pm, perfect for those wanting an exciting after- work activity The first five classes were pool-based and the last five, open water based This structuring of the classes, allowed us to become proficient at using the scuba equipment in the controlled environment of the pool, before we were exposed to the considerably more challenging sea conditions As regards the standard of tuition, it was superb Our instructor was very patient and communicated his enthusiasm of the sport to us His constant encouragement helped even the most nervous of the participants overcome their reservations about deep sea diving An extra, plus, was that all equipment from oxygen tanks, down to snorkels and wetsuits, was provided by the school- ideal for first-timers like myself who don't want to heavily invest in equipment that they might never use again The cost per course was £500 Expensive, admittedly but well worth it, considering you are receiving expert tuition and have the loan of the equipment included I would thoroughly recommend this course to beginners and those wishing to get a taste of this exciting sport 17 Test TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY The current world population is billion and rising fast Food production soon will barely keep up with the stratospheric rise in the earth's population, so a solution has to be found- and fast So far genetically-modified (GM) foods, despite controversy, are gaining favour as scientists struggle to find a solution to feed the world's billions Traditionalists, though, are bitterly opposed to this idea, preferring to stick to old-fashioned farming methods so who is right? Opponents of GM crops maintain that old fashioned methods of farming are best as the fruits of such labour -unlike GM crops-have been proved safe for consumption But we are talking about traditional farming methods that were in use hundreds of years ago before the modern-day population explosion Such methods cannot keep pace with today's growing demand for food The manufacture of GM crops, however, is highly productive and more cost-efficient than traditional methods, greatly increasing crop yield by creating pathogen-resistant crop strains Surely, crop yield is paramount in agriculture if so many mouths are to be fed? Not only GM crops have an increased yield, they are often more nutritious than crops produced by more traditional farming methods Soy beans for example, can be modified to produced healthier oils and in animal husbandry cows have been engineered to produce protein in their milk to facilitate cheese production People are always scared of the unknown but this is no reason to spurn GM foods- I believe that GM foods are the way forward and could be our only way to avoid mass starvation in the future TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: PROPOSAL With regard to my sister's recent poor grades, I have come up with a proposal for better study methods, centering on time management and organisational skills Firstly, as my sister is a reluctant student, I would suggest making after school study more fun Maybe we could invite her friends around, to form a study group If they apply themselves, we could reward them with tea and a nice DVD to watch together It goes without saying, that the study group would be supervised by a parent to ensure that my sister and her friends get down to work and don't get distracted instead! Another way of encouraging my sister to study, might be to make studying into more of a game We could devise a quiz based on her course and one evening invite her friends around for a Quiz Night We could order in pizza to make it a bit more enjoyable, and divide her friends into teams The winning team could win a trip to the cinema, for example However, I think the major problems with my sister's study methods, are time management and organisation She tends to her studying in between children's T.V programmes and during the adverts She should instead allocate a set time in which to her homework-and then stick to it Say, between 6-7.30 pm She could then see some children's T.V beforehand and work more productively afterwards I feel that the implementation of my suggestions will lead to my sister gaining better grades and happier teachers and parents too! 18 TEST - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW My current car is a Ford Fiesta, which I love as it is so reliable Admittedly it's not a 'trendy' car but I look for dependability, road worthiness and how economical a car is to run when I decide on buying a car My Ford Fiesta meets all my desired criteria What I like about my car most, is that it is economical, and I rarely have to fill up my petrol tank more than once a week although I regularly 10 mile runs every day into town and back The car is also a dream to drive It runs smoothly, and comparatively noiselessly and is solid and reliable-I have only had a break-down once and that was because the radiator over-heated on a hot summer's day What my car is lacking in style, it certainly makes up for in reliability! There are also safety features, such as air-bags in the front-seats, head-rests to prevent whip-lash in the event of an impact and a reversing alarm signal that sounds if you get too close to another car In addition Ford Fiestas have a very good safety record unmatched in most other car types However, what I like most, probably about my car, is its bright red colour and customised number plate, which just make it stand out a bit more from the run-of-the-mill Ford Fiesta and more than compensate for its oth- erwise 'boring' image! TEST - PART Hi John, QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER I have just seen the most amazing theatrical performance at the West End ! I just wanted to tell you about it so that you get a chance to see it before it leaves to tour in the United States The play was called 'War Horse,' and based on the novel by Michael Montpurgo Essentially it is a children's story, documenting the fate of Joey an army horse, and his original owner, Billy, through the horrors of trench warfare in the First World War The stage production, however is a visual spectacle that is as captivating and sophisticated as any adult audience could wish for The impossibility of representing cavalry charges on stage, is cleverly overcome by the representation of real horses as larger-than-life puppets But these are not your average children's show puppets-these are huge,rather sinister, model frameworks of horses, that are almost skeletal in appearance This helps convey the horror of warfare, which is magnified as the British troops clash with the Germans on no-mans-land, strobe-lighting effects heightening the drama Although each puppet is operated by several puppeteers positioned underneath each horse puppet, after a while you cease to notice them, as the action takes over and you are caught up in this thrilling story It is incredibly moving and a bit of a tear-jerker, to be honest! I really think you ought to catch this play before it leaves the West End It's a completely unique and unforgettable production with a great storyline! See you soon! Harry 19 Test 10 TEST 10 - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: ESSAY There are currently plans underway to give the town a 'facelift' and make it more attractive as a resort To date, a new hotel and beach volley facilities with a park, have been suggested and both options are causing a degree of controversy amongst the town's people Those in favour of a hotel, believe that the construction of a new hotel would attract tourists This in turn would increase the town's revenue, and the income could then be re-invested in other town improvement projects However, I believe that this is a very short-sighted policy Haven't these people witnessed the slow metamorphosis of our beautiful seaside town into a conglomeration of new, high-rise buildings and hotel complexes? If the town becomes more built-up, tourists will not even want to come here and any revenue we might have gained from tourists will be lost No, the solution is to create more public spaces To my mind, a beach volley facility with a park would provide the much-needed open space for recreation that the town is crying out for Such a facility would attract far more tourists than yet another hotel complex It would also be a wonderful focal point for the community and a place also where the townspeople could relax and enjoy some recreation I strongly believe that the beach volley facilities and park are a much better option for the town than the proposed hotel After all, we don't want to become just another over-developed resort, lacking character as so many other resorts have become TEST 10 - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: LETTER Dear editor, I recently read with utter dismay your editorial, proposing that taxes should be increased to fund the construction of facilities and buildings to host the Olympic Games Personally, I can't understand why on earth,in these difficult economic times, our city would decide to host the Olympic Games Everyone knows the astronomical cost of hosting such an event-the cost of building and construction is often still being paid for long after the Games have actually finished! And who pays for it? Yes, that's right, people like us who have to pay increased taxes to fund such a venture We don't even get a say in the matter Not everyone likes sport-myself included-so why should we be forced to pay for something that we don't want and made to bear the economical burden of construction of the Olympic Games site which will become essentially, a white elephant, once the games are over? Taxes and financial costs, aside-there are other just as annoying problems caused by hosting the Games The overwhelming influx of tourists into our city during the Games, using public and own transport, will greatly increase noise and pollution in our city For the duration of the Games, it will be highly unpleasant having to cope with these factors-and we are asked to pay for it as well! For all of the above reasons, I believe that hosting the Olympic Games would be a grave mistake I believe that many, like myself not want to bear such an unnecessary financial burden Kind regards, 20 TEST 10 - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REVIEW I am a regular viewer of 'Survival in Africa,' and I'm absolutely hooked! The series revolves around a young, married couple, who are both vets Shocked at hearing of all the stories about elephant poaching in Africa, they decide to go to Africa to set up their own sanctuary for endangered species The basic story- line is about how they manage to keep their sanctuary going despite the odds, such as limited finance, threats from poachers and so on Within that basic storyline, the viewer learns of their day-to-day strug- gles in a series of weekly stories from the sanctuary The main characters are the young married couple, Alex, a qualified vet who is an idealist and his wife May, who too is a qualified vet and goes along with Alex's idea to live in Africa as it had been a childhood dream of hers to so The other main character, is their African gamekeeper, Abebe, a name which means 'one who wards off death,' in Yoruba -an appropriate name for a man with such a tough job, trying to ensure the survival of the animals in his keeping and protect them from poachers The most dramatic story lines have been attacks on the sanctuary by poachers and once a wildfire that threatened to destroy all the animals and the sanctuary, with it I think I find it exotic, because of the setting, in the African Bush However, the success of the production itself, is down to the intricate portrayal of characters in this unusual setting, and their daily struggle for existence TEST 10 - PART QUESTION - Model Answer: REPORT I recently conducted a survey into voting habits amongst students between 18-23 years of age, researching a number of issues relating to reasons for voting and influences on the voting process The results are set out below I first researched the numbers of voters and those abstaining 10 per cent of students abstained from voting, but the majority did vote The main reason for voting turned out to be students wanting to have their voice heard on one specific issue, for example environmental pollution, or taxes Rarely did students vote for a political candidate because they agreed on the complete manifesto of the candidate voted for-possibly 15 per cent of students made up such a category Even rarer, were the students blindly voting for a candidate due to affiliation to one particular political party It would seem that students of today are more analytical and don't accept politicians or their parties at face value, preferring to vote on specific issues, not for a party representative Today there are many influences that determine votes Particular issues aside, there are also the external factors such as the media and even peer pressure Many students decide their vote based on political discussions with their peers -around 40 per cent, whilst the remaining percentage of students admitted to being influenced by media stories, on the Internet or in newspapers From the above survey, in can be concluded that students are not swayed by political parties when voting, instead acting independently and preferring to vote on specific issues 21 ... am writing about a recent incident in your shop in which I had the misfortune to be involved in The incident I refer to is when one of your staff stopped me and accused me of shoplifting in front... reading and writing We have also been instrumental in teaching the children about basic hygiene and food preparation as well as teaching them about insect-borne infection, thereby preventing... indeed Therefore, I am convinced that Ancient Greek and Latin should remain on the school curriculum They are invaluable in widening students' knowledge of classical authors as well as teaching